A Beginner’s Guide to Cyber Security

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on Apr 27, 2023 06:30 PM IST | #Cyber Security

With businesses now moving towards a more centralized digital ecosystem for managing their workflows, business processes, and finances, the risks associated with data security are at an all-time high. Thanks to the widespread adoption of digital technologies, companies as well as individuals are becoming more vulnerable to cyber-attacks, invasions of privacy, fraud, and even identity theft. Factors such as the poor configuration of cloud-based services and sophisticated cybercriminals have only made it worse. Nowadays, there is scope to learn everything at one's convenience through online certification courses.

A Beginner’s Guide to Cyber Security

So, this opens the way for cyber security courses for beginners as well as professionals. Now the question arises on how to make career in cyber security and how to start learning cyber security. For professionals interested in understanding how frameworks and protocols can help create safer digital infrastructure, we have put together a comprehensive beginner’s guide to cyber security, profiling some of the best online cyber security courses on the Internet for you to choose from. Many cyber security certifications for beginners are available on the market. Information security certifications for beginners are also available. Read on to get familiar with the best cyber security course for beginners and how to learn cyber security.

Also read: Online Finance Courses and Certifications

Categories of Cyber Security Courses:

While the world is constantly moving towards digital space, it is essential to have experts who can protect sensitive information stored in this space. This is where cyber security courses for beginners comes into action. You can learn about cyber security through various courses. The best cyber security courses for beginners are available, which provide cyber security training for beginners. If we categorize cyber security courses, then there are three major categories that they are divided into. They are mentioned below:

IT Security: When it comes to IT security, it is considered a set of cyber security strategies that prevent unauthorized access to organizational assets such as computers and their software, networks, and data. It is essential in order to maintain the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive information and prevent outside access to reputable services. In simple words, the security system made in order to protect information present in one’s computer system is referred to as "IT security."

Network, End-Point Security: Endpoint security is a process of protecting various endpoints on the network or the web, often described as end-user devices, although hardware such as servers in the data center is also considered storage. There are several types of network end-point securities. Some of them are:

Anti-virus
URL filtering
Application control
Network access control
Browser isolation

Internet Security: Internet security is a component of Internet-related computer security, which often includes browser and World Wide Web security. It is the need of the hour since tons of data are floating around on the internet. There are five main types of cybersecurity:

Critical infrastructure security
Application security
Network security
Cloud Security
Internet of Things (IoT) security

How to Start a Career in Cyber Security?

Aspirants looking forward to starting their career in cyber security can read about the cyber security courses and cyber security certification courses mentioned below. The top 5 cyber security programmes available in India according to Ranking 2020 are mentioned below:

Master Certificate in Cyber Security (Red Team): Jigsaw Academy and HackerU
Stanford Advanced Computer Security Programme: Great Learning
PGP in Cybersecurity: Praxis Business School
Certified Ethical Hacker and Certified Information System Security Professional: Simplilearn
PG Diploma/M.Tech. in Cybersecurity: Reva University

1. Master Certificate in Cyber Security (Red Team) – Jigsaw Academy & HackerU

Jigsaw Academy has played a key role in creating jobs for more than 50,000 students in 30+ countries by helping them create a successful career in emerging technologies through specialized industry studies.

Key Highlights:

Jigsaw Academy's Master Certificate in Cyber Security (Red Team) is the only in-depth cyber security and technology program in India. The program is comprehensive and uses technology, and it is delivered in partnership with and by HackerU, the first cyber security training center. This course includes more than 14 modules in three different categories focused on network basics, Windows and Linux administration, active installation, and access to emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things.

Programme Duration: 600 Hours (20 Hours of Live Online Instructor-Led, and 40 Hours in Internal Class: Basic and Basic Programme + 4 Months-Master Plan)

Also read: View All Online IT Courses & Certifications

2. Stanford Advanced Cybersecurity Security Programme – Great Learning

These programmes help students develop ‘solid’ skills such as business mathematics, data science, big data, machine learning, artificial intelligence, computer science, internet security, digital marketing, and digital business. Great Learning’s analytics programmes have been ranked number one in India for five consecutive years.

Key Highlights:

The Advanced Computer Protection Programme developed by Stanford University and taught with outstanding expertise from Stanford's Computer Science and Engineering departments. The complete system covers all areas important for cyber security from an expert's point of view. Some of the key features of the programme are:

Certificate of achievement from Stanford Engineering
Regular advice from industry experts on cybersecurity
Series of labs and projects that allow participants to apply what they have learned.

This programme is intended to fight for security and software developers, and it provides a complete understanding of the various components that go into cyber security. The list of topics covered in this programme includes cryptography, secure encryption, web application security, mobile security, network security, and other emerging threats and security issues.

Programme Duration: 6 months

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3. PGP in Cybersecurity: Praxis Business School

Praxis offers a PGDM-approved AICTE program for two years and a nine-month full-time programme in data science and cyber security. Praxis also introduced a nine-month PGP in data engineering. Praxis' programmes are one of the most sought programmes in the country.

Key Highlights:

This programme is designed to create cyber-ready heroes by addressing three aspects of the cyber security system: human beings, processes, and technologies, with a special emphasis on law enforcement and compliance.

A 525-hour lecture curriculum, lab work, case studies, and projects are being distributed over three trimesters specifically for SOC analysis, digital forensics, security event management, and cyber information testing. Top professionals perform programme delivery, and participants gain critical experience in the cybersecurity lab. Once completed, students have further opportunities to obtain a BSI or CISCO certification. The popular Praxis Placement programme manages a participant’s transformation into a promising career.

Programme Duration: 9 months with 525 hours of classroom training and web work.

Popular Specializations

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4. Certified Ethical Hacker and Certified Information System Security Professional (Simplilearn)

The training sector recognized Simplilearn as one of the top 20 training companies for 2017–2019. Simplilearn has helped more than a million professionals and 1,000 companies in 150 countries train, certify, and achieve their business and career goals.

Key Highlights:

The EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker course guarantees a high level of security skills to thrive in a secure data center worldwide. Many IT departments have made the CEH certificate a mandatory requirement for security-related posts, making it a certificate of attendance for cybersecurity professionals. This certificate provides students with the required techniques and tools that are usually used by hackers and information security professionals alike to gain access to any computer system.

These lessons will immerse the student in the hacker mindset to teach him to think like a giant and better protect him from future attacks. It also provides a hands-on training environment using a systematic hacking process. Courses cover five stages of behavioral hacking, getting into testing, gaining access, counting, keeping access, and covering your tracks.

Simplilearn's CISSP certification training is aligned with the latest (ISC) requirements ² CBK. The course trains you in the latest best practices in the industry that will help you pass the exam on the first try. Certification helps you develop expertise in defining, designing, building, and maintaining a secure business environment for your organisation using internationally accepted standards of information security.

Programme Duration: 40 hours for the CEH program and 32 hours for the CISSP program

Cybersecurity Certification Courses by Top Providers

5. PG Diploma/M.Tech. in Cybersecurity: Reva University

These programmes bring the latest tools, strategies, and skill sets tailored to the future needs of the industry.

Key Highlights:

The PG Diploma or M. Tech in Cybersecurity is a 12- or 24-month cyber security programme for practicing professionals that provides in-depth knowledge and skills in cyber security to manage business security and monitor, prepare, predict, identify, and respond to cyber attacks. Industry experts devised and supplied the program. This system works best in the visual environment provided by Cyber Range, which includes real-time emulators, including road generators.

Programme Duration: 12 months PG Diploma and 24 months M.Tech Programme

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Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

1. What are the key skills you need to know for a career in cyber security?

Key cybersecurity skills and concepts to learn to include the security and networking foundations, logging and monitoring procedures, network defense tactics, cryptography and access management practices, and web application security techniques.

2. What are the roles of an entry-level cybersecurity analyst?

An entry-level cybersecurity analyst's roles include learning about new threats and attack techniques, assessing a SIEM tool for abnormalities, reverting to alerts and escalating when necessary, ensuring that the firewall is configured correctly, performing basic penetration testing, creating security incident reports, and implementing repetitive security tasks.

3. How many hours a week do cyber security professionals work?

Most people work 40 hours per week. One may work evenings or weekends to meet deadlines or solve problems. An individual may have to travel to different companies within the city or nation if working as a consultant.

4. Is it easy to learn cyber security?

Cybersecurity requires a variety of technical abilities, and working in a fast-paced atmosphere can be demanding. It is very likely to acquire sufficient knowledge and the necessary skills with some effort and dedication.

5. What do employers look for in cyber security professionals?

Employers will be on the lookout for dependable and trustworthy prospective workers. Working in cybersecurity entails using sensitive information with skills that are similar to those of a black-hat hacker, but in a legal and purposeful way.

6. Do math skills play a big part in cybersecurity?

No, a lot of math is not necessary for cybersecurity. As risk is frequently calculated by security professionals utilising logic, statistics, and math, being aware of math can help you advance in your cybersecurity related job.

7. How to Prepare for a Career in Cyber Security?

Three basic steps to prepare for cyber security are:Get certified to show mastery of a body of knowledge (for example, Certified Information Systems Security Professional).Pick your focus and become an expert in that area.Build a solid foundation in networking, systems administration, database management, or web applications to provide focus for your security education.

8. Is cyber security a good career in India?

Cybersecurity has become one of the most in-demand careers in India now as governments and organisations are facing cyber threats. As a student or a professional, if you want to make a career in Cybersecurity, this is a great opportunity.

9. How long does it take to learn cyber security?

If you wish to have excellent skills as well as expertise in the field of cyber security, then it will take a minimum duration of 12 months. Ideally one should go for a two-year programme which can help an individual attain a good base and knowledge.

10. Is coding required for cyber security?

Programming knowledge is not a requirement for all cyber security jobs, although some specialised roles require the knowledge of coding as an advantage. It can also help you pursue more job opportunities dealing with cyber security.

11. Is cyber security an in-demand career?

Thanks to an increase in cyber security issues across the globe, cyber security professionals are much sought-after by companies and startups.

12. How many hours a week do cyber security professionals work?